Big Bouquets of roses to our organizational team that made this event happen! Thank you to: Alex who has been the ‘right hand’ of this Ride from the beginning; to Marc who is an organizational mastermind; to Tamara, wonder woman herself; to Kirsten , who jumped in making the amazing food; and to Silvia and Miyako who so expertly prepped all the food and served it up to us. Thank you to Leah and Friends of Cortes Island for being our organizational partner, we see a long and happy future of this Gorge-ous Event with FOCI.

Big recognition to our major sponsor, Gorge Harbour Marina. To Bill and Tammy, Richard and Michelle and amazing staff who supported us. Thank you to our other sponsors; Island Timberlands, for allowing use of their lands, RH Printing in Campbell River, for generous printing of most excellent posters, to Gathering Place Trading Company, for plenty of admin time and prizes, to Hollyhock, for prizes and to Naked Cycles, the makers of the finest custom cycles, for prizes! Andrea, from Naked Cycles, dazzled us with her all girl band the Willow-ishes who played live music as we ate dinner. Campbell River Bike Shops, you rock! A big thanks to Swicked Cycle who generously sponsored us with prizes and to Spokes and Pedal your World who also donated. Thanks also to Andrew at Dandy Horse, our Cortes local bike store!

Thank you to Discovery Organics for your organic food donation and the Cortes Natural Food Coop for receiving it for us. The BBQ menu was vastly improved with the addition of Sockeye Salmon from Andrea and Gary – thanks for the awesome deal! Thanks to Charlotte for the garlic, to Mark for helping with set up and to Chris for being our BBQ master. Thanks to Richard for sound set up, to Lucy, Michelle and the Co-op Café for yummy baked treats, and to Russ and Francois for your assistance.

There are still more volunteers to thank! What a community event this was!Thanks to back country marshalls; Christine and Cec, Alma, Kai, Ella and Angelica, Henri, Rob, Fred, Conrad and Osha, Bob, Sheryl, Lamma, and Glen. Special kudos to Jess, Andy and baby James who set up a drum kit and dressed in costume to direct us down Jocelyn Rd from Olmstead, that was over the top awesome! Thanks to Yifan and Hazel who helped at the Gorge Hall and to M.O.D., the wonderful Mike O’Donnell who came and played some tunes for us! Thank you to Ester for getting our event on the web! Josh, your art work on the poster received so many complements - amazing!

Roses to Bob and the Cortes Fire Department who brought out the fire truck for road safety. Big Bouquets to Mary Clare with BC Ambulance who volunteered her day and brought the ambulance in case of emergencies (of which there were none thankfully!)

Thank you to the land owners who allowed us to traverse across their lands to access the jewels this incredible island has to offer: David Hughes, John Drew, Ruth Ozeki and Oliver Kellhammer. Your kindness is well noted.

Huge and heartfelt thanks to all participants who rode the 5K, the 18K and to the thirteen intrepid folks who walk/ran our first 5K! Special thanks to all the children who participated, you inspired and delighted us, in fact, it is for you especially that we offer this event!

100% of your entry donations went directly to supporting Cortes Island Forest Land! The goal is for these lands to remain as intact forest for now and forever, to be used for recreation, wilderness experience, wildlife viewing, species preservation, stream keeping, and sacred places to renew our spirits. Also key in this forest preservation is the continued eco and adventure tourism opportunities intact forest lands create.

The grand tally! Drum roll please….We raised over $2000 for Cortes Island Forest Lands. $800 goes to the Whaletown Commons Society, for our newest Park on Cortes Island, in the heart of Whaletown, that all the events traversed through. $1000 goes to the Forest Trust for the Children of Cortes Island, which represents the large track of land surrounding Carrington Lagoon. The rest of the funds remain with FOCI for administrating this amazing project!